Namesake: B

After moving from Calcutta to New York, members of the Ganguli family struggle to find the delicate balance between family tradition and new world American culture.

I lived in an area of Queens, New York called "Richmond Hill", which is predominately Indian/West islander immigrants, many of their story's are similar to the tale of Namesake. Based on the book by the same name this movie poignantly directs your thoughts to all immigrant struggles, I could not help but reflect upon my own past generations of family that immigrated to this country a century ago. In current circumstances with our nations struggle over immigration, this movie gives us leave to have apathy for those that have traveled great distances to create a better life for their family. Namesake describes the American dream as "a place where possibilities are endless, where you can be who you want, say what you want, and define yourself through hard work and intuition." No place do these words mean more then faced with or own challenges and looking towards those who came before us with respect and wanting advice, only to find that the solutions are in the traditions and words of wisdom passed down from parent to child. This is what Namesake explains, touching are the scenes where this moment of clarity if defined. See this movie and thank those that came before you.

Rated: "PG-13" for Disturbing images and Brief language.

Also See: Garden State, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, In America.

Hitman: C

Based on the hit video game of the same name, Agent "47" has been trained since birth in the art of assassination, as a killer for hire he accepts a mission to assassinate the President-elect of Russia only to discover that after completion of his mission his trusted "Broker" has set him up and alerted the entire Russian government off his existence.

I was leary of Timothy Olyphant (Live free or Die Hard) being cast as Agent "47" (his previous roles have been mediocre at best), but one glimpse of him in that dark suit with blazing red tie and I was sold, he looked every bit the part video gamers are so passionate about, which is good given that the movie has almost no dialogue and centers mostly on the thrill of the chase.
The movie follows the game very well, side tracking on a witness (Olga Kurylenko) "47" saves and subsequently falls for! the relationship between "47" and this witness is dry at best, the movie would have been just as good without the useless dialogue and mind numbing banter of this damaged girl. The highlight of this film as in the game is the assassinations and the exactness to which they are consistently carried out, focusing on every detail of weaponry and high tech gizmo available to this elite Hit man. The live action sequences are exciting to watch but a little difficult at times due to camera work and over-editing, the best way to describe this film is "Born Identity with no words and all action". I enjoyed this movie for what it was, a Popcorn flick.

Rated: "R" for violence, Language and Partial Nudity.

Also see: Born Ultimatum, Casino Royal, The Transporter

"Beowulf" in IMAX 3D: B

Loosely based on the Old English epic poem, thought to be written in the eighth century, tells of a Danish kingdom terrorized by an evil sorcerer and her son "Grendel" a deformed mixture of man/scaly beast. The king (Sir Anthony Hopkins) offers a reward of half his Kingdom to the man who can kill these menacing creatures. Beowulf (Ray Winstone of Sexy Beast) enticed by the offer of GLORY and GOLD accepts the Danish kings challenge....

I was first attracted to this movie for several reason's, first, the storyline, I had read this Poem and had seen other interpretations of this movie with my father as a child; second, since I was a boy I remember hearing of "3D movies and those funny looking glasses", (having missed that era by about twenty years I never had the chance to experience 3D Imaging first hand); third, since the release of "300" I can't get enough of these "Glory" films.

This film got so many things right while at the same time ruining what could have been a blockbuster! The animation, while really cool and more advanced than almost anything I have seen in several years (mostly due to 3D imaging) was simply that, animation. It is hard to get past that reality no matter how good the graphics are. The storyline, although resembling the poem, takes liberties that make the movie almost unnoticeable except for the name "Beowulf" & the evil Dragon (don't worry I am not spoiling anything). While Director Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express) has re-written "Beowulf", he has succeeded in relaying his underlining message of this film in excellent fashion. This new interpretation of "Beowulf" is ridden with an insatiable desire for More, More, More. Excess and pride are the central themes of this film, how these sins destroy and curse those who desire such things, how they create a "Hero" reduce him to cowardice and then create a "Hero" again. The infusion of Christianity into pagan society plays a key role in relaying Zemickises message. I enjoyed this movie immensely, despite itself and the "funny looking glasses" I wore.

Rated: "PG-13" for violence & Partial Nudity.

See also: 300, other "Beowulf" feature films, and 13Th warrior.

Smokin' Aces: D

Twisted so called Action thriller and Gangster film directed by Joe Carnahan (Narc & Killing Pueblo) and starring Common, Alicia Keys, Ben Affleck, Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, and Ryan Reynolds.

If you are a fan of the Gangster film genre like I am, you will absolutely hate this movie. Cluttered with half a dozen story line's (non of which interesting or believing in the lest) hit men/hit women are driven to Lake Tahoe by the enticement of a $1,000,000 bounty placed on the head of a popular Vegas magician, turned mob under-boss, turned FBI snitch. One storyline after another collides together only to create one of the most violent, gruesome, and disgusting gun battles I have witnessed since the sadisticness of "Natural Born Killers". Not one of these actors including my favorite actor Ray Liotta are believable, relatable, or even interesting (excluding rapper "Common", who created just enough mystery due to his lack of lines). when the movie finished and everybody was dead, I was wishing I had died at the start of this movie and saved myself the pain of being tortured through this krap.

Rated "R" for Extreme Violence and Language

See Also: Natural Born Killers

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers: B+

1954's Oscar nominee and two time academy winner, this musical written by Saul Chaplin, Gene de Paul and directed by Stanley Donan is one of the best ever made.

Backwoodsman Adam marries Milly after knowing each other for only a few hours.
Adam whisk Milly away to his house in mountains with no honeymoon. Milly having gotten her hopes up about starting a family and creating a beautiful life is shocked to find that Adam lives with his six other brothers in a small cabin far away from everything. The brothers are unrefined, dirty, and immature, having never lived with or around a women they treat Milly like a queen, but very clumsily.
Milly has Reluctantly taken it upon herself to teach Adams brothers refinement and maturity. while successful, chaos pursues when the brothers kidnap Six brides for themselves from the local town. I consider this movie meant to uplift your spirit and entertain your family while reminding us of simpler times where chivalry meant everything, men where expected to work hard to support their families, women where modest and respected for it. Delivery of all these messages is exemplary which is why I consider this film a "Classic".

This movie is rated "G" for everyone

*Also see: The King & I, Singing in the Rain, Sound of Music.

Live Free or Die Hard: B+

The fourth movie in the history of Die Hard movie saga excellence.

The first Die Hard movie is possibly the greatest Tough Guy movie ever made (not to mention one of my favorite Christmas Movies ever), The second die hard was good, the third movie was one big smile, This movie was amazing. Unrealistic is the name of the game, but if you can get past all the computer jargon and high tech gibberish this movie is the second best die hard movie ever! Bruce Willis as disgruntled cop "John McClain", is at his best.

The best Thing I can say to enthuse your eyes is "F16, Semi-truck, and lots of missiles on the Highway". This movie has tough guy machismo all over, and it is awesome. yeppi-qi-a...



This movie is rated "pg-13" for violence and language.



*also see: Die Hard, Lethal Weapon 4

Rescue Dawn: A+

Based on the true story of German borne Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), this movie tells of the only documented American POW to escape a Vietnam concentration camp and live to tell.

This movie is "Excellent", Christian Bale as Dengler has never been so good, even his upcoming role as folksinger "Woody Guthrey", does not compare.
This movie captures the American spirit distinctly through the eyes of an American immigrant turned Pilot for the United States Air Force. On his first mission designated "black" for top secret Dengler is shot down past Vietnam enemy lines. This movie highlights the next two years of a daring escape by dengler, covering his initial torcher, Interrogation, and subsequent escape. The most touching scenes in this movie are those centered around Dengler and the other prisoners, specifically his friendship with Steve Zahn.

This movie is rated "pg-13" for violence and Language.

*See also: Dirty Dozen, Bridge over river quwe, and Red Badge of Courage.

American Gangster: B+

Based on the life of famed Harlem gangster "Frank Lucas", this movie takes place in the late 50's mid 60's amid the Vietnam conflict.

Russell Crow is excellent as a driven, ethical (all-be-it morally flawed) cop leading a group of trusted police in the pursuit of "Frank Lucas" (Played brilliantly by Denzel Washington) one of the most Lucrative drug smugglers in U.S. history.

All though slow to start and never quite clear how lucrative Frank Lucas is, this movie creates a picture so graphic and bloody of Lucas while at the same time convincing you that he is nothing more then a family man trying desperately to create a better life for his future, Lucas refers to this as "White man Rich". The acting is flawless, and with director Ridley Scott at he helm I expect nothing less.

This movie is rated "R" for extreme Violence, Language.

*See Also: Good Fellows, Malcolm X, and Scar Face.